• Cite drug, equipment shortages and lack of MSD response to 233 essential drugs  

The Government Dental Surgeons’ Association (GDSA) has warned that due to the lack of approximately 1,300 types of medicines and equipment required for dental treatment, there is a risk of normal dental and orthodontic treatments and dental surgeries coming to a complete halt in certain Government hospitals.

Speaking to the media yesterday (27), GDSA Secretary and dental specialist Manjula Herath said that the Ministry of Health has failed to address the issue although the Ministry had been requested to provide 233 medicines identified as essential drugs out of the above-mentioned 1,300 medicines.

“Numerous dental services have been stopped due to the lack of medicines required for dental treatment, especially dental surgeries, laboratory services, and orthodontic treatments. We have informed the Ministry’s Medical Supplies Division (MSD) to immediately look into this and take action. But, no action has been taken so far. This situation is not a new one; it has prevailed since 2021,” he said.

Herath further claimed that the Ministry initially avoided addressing this problem due to the economic crisis. He also pointed out how problematic it is that the Ministry fails to address these problems even when it receives sufficient aid from various international organisations.

“Our association and other academic institutions identified 233 medicines as essential out of 1,300 medicines and asked the MSD to provide them urgently. But, we are yet to receive a response in this regard. Although the Ministry claimed there was no money, we saw that the Asian Development Bank provided $ 100 million to the Health Department,” he said.

Several attempts to contact Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella and Secretary to the Ministry Janaka Sri Chandraguptha proved futile.